Somalis, Kenyans deported from US amid Trump vow

January 25, 2017 5:40 pm

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Government Spokesman Eric Kiraithe confirmed the deportations but did not immediately provide further details on whether they are linked to the crackdown pledged on illegal immigrants by US President Donald Trump/FILE

By CAPITAL REPORTER, NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 25 – 90 Somalis and two Kenyans landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Wednesday after deportation from the United States.

Immigration and airport officials confirmed the arrival of the group but no details were immediately available on reasons for their deportation.

Government Spokesman Eric Kiraithe confirmed the deportations but did not immediately provide further details on whether they are linked to the crackdown pledged on illegal immigrants by US President Donald Trump.

“It is true we have two Kenyans and 90 Somalis who were deported from the US,” Kiraithe told Capital FM News when reached on telephone.

Trump is Wednesday expected to sign an order setting in motion mass deportations of up to three million people linked to crime in the US – including drug dealers and other criminals with questionable documentation in America.

On arrival in Nairobi, the Somalis were flown to their country.

There are up to 200,000 Kenyans living in the US without valid documentation, according to Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. Somalis with similar status could be many more, but there are no available statistics.

Trump had announced on his Twitter account that the plan to put up a wall at the Mexico border will kick off in line with his campaign pledge that was heavily criticized.

“Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!,” he tweeted.

Trump took over power last week from Barrack Obama, promising to fulfill all his campaign pledges – including those largely criticized like the Mexico border wall construction.